Mumbai Indians were handed a painful double setback at the Wankhede Stadium after slipping to a defeat by 18 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the result has quickly turned into a fresh fitness worry. The main concern for the franchise is veteran opener and former captain Rohit Sharma, whose availability now hangs in the balance following a hamstring problem during the chase.
In a thriller that swung back and forth in a high-scoring IPL 2026 contest, RCB set the tone by piling up 240/4. The innings was powered by three notable half-century contributions from Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, giving Bengaluru a platform that looked difficult to chase from the outset. Yet MI started with intent, with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton providing an eye-catching opening burst. Their early partnership carried them to 39 without loss in only three overs, and they reached the end of the powerplay on 62/0, setting a promising tempo for the chase.
Everything changed in the sixth over when Rohit Sharma walked off the field after feeling discomfort linked to a hamstring issue. His departure created an immediate disruption in MI’s chase, and the innings never fully recovered from that jolt. Rohit had been in good rhythm before retiring hurt on 19 off 13 balls, and he did not return to the crease as Mumbai eventually finished on 222/5—falling short of the target by 18 runs.
Despite the blow of Rohit’s early exit, MI still had pathways to an upset, largely through the fight shown by Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. The chase then gathered a final surge of excitement thanks to Sherfane Rutherford, whose unbeaten 71 off 31 balls kept the match alive until the end. For long stretches, it looked like Bengaluru might be forced to defend a total that suddenly appeared within reach, but MI ultimately couldn’t cross the line.
After the match, Rutherford addressed the situation around Rohit’s fitness, confirming that the opener is dealing with a hamstring issue, though he stopped short of offering any specifics on how severe it might be. “I am not sure about it. It’s a bit of a hamstring. I am not sure; I was in the dugout, so I can’t really give much information on that,” Rutherford said to reporters following the game.
With MI also suffering their third consecutive defeat, the timing of this injury is particularly worrying. The team now awaits further assessment on Rohit Sharma as they look toward upcoming fixtures, hoping the injury doesn’t rule him out at a crucial stage of the season.
